Portugal strike forces Etihad to suspend Lisbon flights / Image: @etihad
Etihad Airways has cancelled its Abu Dhabi–Lisbon service (flight EY099) and the return (EY100) for Thursday, 11 December 2025, after widespread industrial action at Portuguese airports that forced a suspension of normal operations. The carrier apologised and told affected passengers to update their contact details and use its assistance channels for rebooking.
Etihad flight cancellations
A massive nationwide general strike in Portugal has caused significant disruption to international air travel, forcing major UAE carriers Etihad Airways and Emirates to cancel all scheduled flights to and from Lisbon on Thursday, December 11. The industrial action, which paralyzed airport operations across Portugal, including Lisbon Portela International Airport (also known as Humberto Delgado Airport), marked the country’s most impactful walkout since 2013.The cancellations affected two primary routes:
- Etihad Airways: The airline cancelled its daily service between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and Lisbon. The affected flights were the outbound service EY099 and the return flight EY100.
- Emirates: The airline, which operates a twice-daily schedule to the Portuguese capital, cancelled a total of four flights: EK191 and EK193 from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Lisbon, and the corresponding return services EK192 and EK194.
The timing of the strike created a severe logistical headache, coinciding with December’s peak holiday travel season, where Dubai International Airport alone was expecting over 10 million passengers. Emirates confirmed that travelers connecting through Dubai on the cancelled outbound flights (EK191 and EK193) would not be accepted for travel at their point of origin.
Portugal general strike on 11 December
The cancellations are part of a much larger national strike called by Portugal’s two main unions, CGTP and UGT, the country’s first general strike of this scale since 2013. The industrial action targets proposed labour-law reforms (including changes to dismissal rules and working hours) and has drawn participation from teachers, health workers, municipal staff and transport employees, and crucially airline cabin and ground crews represented by SNPVAC. Union action at Lisbon (and Porto) airports meant only minimum services could run, making it “very difficult to operate flights” on December 11.The airline cited “national industrial action affecting all airlines at Lisbon Airport” as the reason for the suspension. The management added, “We apologise for the inconvenience. Our teams are doing their best to assist with your travel arrangements,” while emphasising that “the safety and comfort of our guests and crew is our number one priority.”
Impact
Thousands of travellers faced disruption during a peak travel period. Etihad emphasised that “the safety and comfort of our guests and crew is our number one priority” and apologised for the inconvenience while offering assistance and urging passengers to check etihad.com/contactme for updates. Emirates and other carriers also suspended or reduced services to Lisbon on the same date, compounding rebooking pressure at busy UAE hubs. Airlines have been offering rebooking, refunds or vouchers depending on fare rules and availability.
